This database of seasonal words (worldwide saijiki) will give us an opportunity to deepen the understanding of kigo issues and to appreciate the climate, life and culture of many different parts of the world. (kigopedia)

This is an educational site for reference purposes of haiku poets worldwide.

12/16/2006

The words LEAF, LEAVES, ha, happa 葉、葉っぱ Blatt, Blätter,refering to the leaves of trees,
just like that are not a kigo.

But special kinds of tree leaves come in various seasons, check the kigo below and the links for the other seasons.
We even have "fallen leaves" in more than one season.

Young green leaves have the full power of life and branches with them were a favorite with the ladies of old to stick into the hair, thus partaking of this natural power.
Thhis custom later turned into elaborate . kanzashi 簪 hairpins .

quote
Ashiki no yama no konure no hoyo torite kazashitsuraku wa chitose hoku to so

Taking the mistletoe from the top of the mountain and placing it in my hair,
wanting to celebrate a thousand years.

lying on my back
on the ground -- new leaves
even on my stomach Tr. Chris Drake

This summer hokku is from the 6th month (July) of 1814, two months after Issa had gotten married to a woman who lived near his hometown. Issa seems to be in a very good mood, and he decides to just lie down on his back on the ground and stretch out for a while, probably just to enjoy things. (The next hokku in his diary is about looking up at clouds.) He seems to be near some bushes or a low tree or two, because there are new green leaves stuck to his robe, even on the part over his abdomen. He seems surprised by the leaf or leaves on his upper side, since he's lying on his back.

Most of the leaves on the ground are old leaves, however, so Issa's robe must have picked up the new green leaves when he was flopping down onto the ground and stretching out. Or perhaps the low limb of a leafy bush is lying across his abdomen area. Is Issa momentarily imagining he's a plant? Or could this be a rejuvenation or fertility image suggesting marital lovemaking?